amandacam

My husband's grandfather had polio as a teen. As a result, his jaw looks misaligned and he has speech problems. It can be very difficult to understand some of the things he says.

Maybe you didn't get my point, which was that people questioning vaccines were questioning long before Jenny McCarthy started shouting from the rooftops. And they're not following McCarthy orders. My point is that there is a ridiculous misconception that she started the non-vaccinating and delayed vaccinating movement.

In nursing school, I HATED med/surg with a passion. I dreaded every single time I had to be on a med/surg floor. Then 4th semester rolled around and I was put with a preceptor on a surgical floor, on night shift. All summer before the start of that semester, I was dreading it. But then I started and shockingly, I loved it. The people were team oriented and helpful, my preceptor was amazing, and I saw conditions that I had either only read about lightly or ones that we had not learned about yet. I honestly believe being on this unit helped me pass NCLEX, too. Next week, I start my first RN job on this very same floor. I encourage you to go into the med/surg interview with an open mind. You may change it or at the very least, it will give you a solid base.

For my program, I had to take 1 semester of microbiology, 2 semesters of A&P, 1 semester of chemistry (general or health sciences version were acceptable), developmental psych, nutrition, and statistics. After entering my program, they dropped the chemistry requirement.

I just wanted to point something out. Not all non-vaccinating or delayed vaccinating parents believe there is a link between autism and vaccines. They might be in the minority, but I believe it is a common misconception. Many people I know who have delayed or have not vaccinated have done so because they question the vaccination schedule, the amount of vaccines given at one time, and the ingredients in the vaccine, not because Jenny McCarthy said, "Don't vaccinate your kids, people!"

Thank you for starting this! I start working on a surgical unit next month. In my last semester of nursing school, I was with a preceptor on this very same floor. Since I will be more "on my own", I am loving the suggestions. Do any of y'all carry a clipboard?

Hi everyone. I emailed everyone that I had an email address for to give them the link for the Facebook group for your class. Please PM me if you need the address.

Yes, you will have reading to do before hand. Traditionally, it has been the first 3 chapters of the Fundamentals book. As soon as I gather the information, I will let you know for sure.

Stevebeuke - for the generic program, you're on campus twice a week for class. You could get away with one pair of the reds, but I recommend 2 pairs. It's just easier. For the 1st semester, you only have clinical once a week, so one pair of whites work. 2nd semester, you may want to get a second pair.

I submitted mine on Immunitrax.

I also wanted to say that many of your questions will be answered at orientation. I know it's hard not to plan everything now. There's so much excitement! But try to stay calm and just go with the flow.

From my personal opinion - I would just purchase the box of books. You need online access for specific things ie SimChart, completing skills assignments, online access to your books. Purchasing everything separately might actually be more costly. The blue care like jls0459 said is something you get after completing your background check. However, from my experience, it takes forever to come in. I started class without it. I did my background check at the beginning of December. 6 weeks later when classes started, no card! I actually didn't get mine until 3 weeks into the semester. You just have to let them know that you have not received it yet. The nursing office will get notification if your background check didn't clear. With NCLEX review books, I have Saunders Comprehensive. While we are associated with Kaplan, I personally feel like it doesn't hurt to have different books. I use mine as a supplement to studying. It helps to have extra questions than the ones in the back of the chapters. And now that I am entering my 4th semester, I am using it to review content and to start prepping for NCLEX. Honestly, in nursing school, you have to figure out what works for you. Don't rush out and buy every book because someone recommends it. Go to Barnes and Noble, sit down with book, and look it over before buying it. Hope this all helps!

Everyone take a deep breath! I'm Amanda - the Student Nurses Association president. Hi to everyone and congrats! If you scored above the cutoff, you are tentatively in the program. They are not going to run out of slots. The staff specifically counts the highest scores for each spot in the program. The last person's score is the cutoff score. J has given y'all some great advice with what you need. Some books you can get ahead of time are a nurses drug guide - get one with online access. You'll thank me later. You also need a nursing care plan book. I really like the one from Ackley. It also pairs very well with the other books you will be buying in your huge box o' books. You also need a medical dictionary and a labs and diagnostic book. I use this one. Amazon.com: A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests (Manual of Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests) (9780781771948): Frances Fischbach RN BSN MSN, Marshall B. Dunning III BS MS PhD: Books Class scrubs need to be Landau True Red - any style is okay as long as they are True Red. Also, at orientation, there will be a scrub store there that will have scrubs and accessories for y'all to buy. If you have any other questions, please ask away! I'll try to check in here as often as I can!

If anyone needs the link to the FB group, send me a private message.

You have to have your reading done before class starts. You'll get information about that at orientation.